Okay, so in my last reviews, people requested the story to be moved on.

Now since I am doing a direct AU, this means if you want action, we have to move ahead a lot.

So I am.

We are jumping to July 2014.

Yep, I know. Drastic.

So just to clarify, Mary has finished uni, Edith is still at uni, and Sybil has just finished at sixth form. Mary is 22, Edith is 20 and Sybil is 18.

So now on with the story!

Mary Josephine Crawley was sat on her favourite bench in the garden of Downton House, reading her favourite book, Pride and Prejudice.

It was a warm, pleasant day, and the sun shone brightly through the trees. The scene was almost picture perfect.

As she read, she thought of how her university days had long passed by, and she was back to being a general's daughter, an ideal target for marriage. She was having to readjust to her life as a rich daughter, and was not too pleased at this.

And on top of that, she was adjusting to the fact that she knew she loved Matthew. She knew it, though she was a distance from admitting it. Her stubbornness never deteriorated.

But her thoughs were interrupted by voices coming from the room above her. She closed her book, and listened intently.

'So we're going to do it then? Finally? And are all the plans in place?'

It was Sybil. Mary opened her ears.

'I can't wait to go! I've never done it before!'

Mary was having difficulty to interpret this, but she had no more time, for Sybil's voice had faded away. She decided it was irrelevant, and submerged back into her book once more.

'Where's Sybil?' Mary asked, as the Crawley's and their granny Violet were sat around the dining table.

'She's feeling under the weather,' Cora explained.

Mary shrugged and carried on with her dinner.

They all filed out, and as Mary followed her mum, she heard a knock at the door.

No one else seemed to notice as they left, so Mary opened the door slightly.

There stood a teenage girl, whom Mary recognised as Sybil's boyfriend, Tom.

'Tom, what is it?'

'Mary, I we just got back from the gig, and Sybil was hurt! She's at Crawley House now!'

'What gig?' asked Mary forcefully.

'We went to see a band, but some guy punched her. A guy that hates me and…'

Mary grabbed her coat from the coat stand, shouted 'I'm going out!' and slammed the door behind her.

'Tom, go home. I'm going to Sybil now!'

Mary leapt in her car and drove as fast as she could to Crawley House. It seemed to take forever, but eventually she reached there and smacked the door as hard as she could.

Matthew opened it and beckoned her in without a word.

Mary rushed into the lounge. Isobel was crouched over Sybil. Her head was bleeding and she was a s white as a sheet.

'OH MY GOD!' Mary gasped, as she fell to the floor beside her sister. 'What happened?' she asked, turning to Matthew.

'She went out to this gig, with her friend, and she got punched. I was there too with my friend at the time, I took her home in the car, she'd fainted,' Matthew explained, with a grave look on his face.

Isobel was pressing firmly on the cut on Sybil's head with a bandage.

'I could kill Tom!' Mary hissed.

'No! Don't!' Sybil wheezed.

'Please try and relax Sybil,' said Isobel.

'Oh Matthew, thank goodness you were there,' said Mary as she stroked her sisters hand.

'Right well I've done everything now. Matthew will drive you both home. I've sent a message to Cora, she'll know what's happened when you return home. Sybil, you'll need to rest.'

'But I came in my car,' said Mary.

'I can walk back,' said Matthew, 'It isn't a problem.'

Mary helped Sybil back into the house, closely followed by Matthew. Cora was waiting in the hall.

Her eyes were wide with fear and hysteria. She took Sybil's hand.

'Come upstairs.'

Robert was there too, baring a grave expression. 'Thank you ever so much, Matthew,' he said, 'I don't know what could have happened. Mary, please take Matthew into the dining room, we have some sandwiches for him.'

Mary nodded and led Matthew into the dining room. They both sat there quietly, until Matthew broke the silence.

'This is funny, the both of us sat together in silence,' he chuckled.

'How?'

'Well two years ago, you couldn't bare being in my company, and now I guess, we've become quite fond of each other.'

'I suppose you're right.

'Yes. You did say some dreadful things. Do you remember when you told me about that novel you were reading?'

'Yes,' Mary admitted with guilt, 'I do.'

'Hmm. Such a charming welcome.'

'Matthew, you must learn to never pay attention to the things I say.'

Then without thinking, or planning it, they leant closer, and kissed.

A kiss of passion, longing and love. Mary couldn't believe she was kissing him, but it felt so right, so loving, and so perfect.

So! Apologies for the jump but I wanted to get the story moving if you know what I mean.

Reviews are very welcome!